Kansas University chancellor Robert Hemenway announced his retirement on Monday, surprising many. Enlarge video

The chancellor at a glance

Facts and figures about Kansas University Chancellor Robert Emery Hemenway.

Born: Aug. 10, 1941

Age: 67

Family: Eight children, including two with wife Leah, and seven grandchildren.

Education: Hastings (Neb.) High School, 1959; University of Nebraska at Omaha, bachelor’s degree in English, 1963; Kent State University, doctorate in English, 1966.

Academic experience: 1966-68, assistant professor of English, University of Kentucky; 1968-73, assistant and associate professor of American studies, University of Wyoming; 1973-81 associate professor and professor of English, University of Kentucky; 1981-86, chairman, department of English, University of Kentucky; 1986-89, dean of arts and sciences, University of Oklahoma; 1989-95, chancellor, University of Kentucky, Lexington Campus; 1995-present, chancellor, Kansas University.

Books published: “Zora Neale Hurston: A Literary Biography,” 1977. Contributed to several others, both as an editor and by writing forewords, chapters and introductions.

Salary as chancellor: Three months ago, the Kansas Board of Regents gave Hemenway a 2.5 percent pay raise, taking his potential salary compensation to $340,352. Of Hemenway’s compensation, $267,177 is provided by state funds. The remaining $73,175 represents the maximum he can receive from the KU Endowment Association. When he was hired in 1995, Hemenway was paid a base salary of $160,000 — plus the chancellor’s residence, an $18,500 residential spending allowance, a $15,000 expense account and a leased vehicle.

Photo Gallery

Photos from Chancellor Robert Hemenway's career at KU.

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KU's 16th chancellor, Robert Hemenway, announced Dec. 8, 2008, that he would retire at the end of the current academic year. He's been chancellor for 14 years.

Kansas University Chancellor Robert E. Hemenway plans to teach and write a book on intercollegiate athletics once he leaves his post on June 30.

Hemenway, who joined the university in 1995, said there is no “good” time to step down.

“There is never a perfect time to step down from a job like this,” said Hemenway, 67, in a Monday morning press conference, announcing news that surprised many. “But in light of where KU is today and the accomplishments of the past 12 months, it is about as good as it gets.”

Hemenway presided over a time of growth and prosperity for KU. It reported a record enrollment figure this fall — 30,102 students at its Lawrence, Edwards and KU Medical Center campuses. That is up from 27,639 in fall 1995.

During Hemenway’s tenure, tuition also rose dramatically, from $1,100 for two semesters for an in-state resident taking 15 hours per semester in 1995-96, to $6,195 in 2008-09.

KU’s athletic programs suffered some bad times with the elimination of two men’s sports — swimming and tennis — and a KU football team that nearly hit rock bottom. But it rebounded after Hemenway hired Athletic Director Lew Perkins. The football team brought home an Orange Bowl trophy, and the men’s basketball team won a national title this year.

Hemenway also shephered through an agreement to separate the KU Hospital from state status to a public authority. He began a process to earn National Cancer Institute designation for the university’s Cancer Center, making that the university’s No. 1 priority in 2005.

He was also criticized in some corners for the way he handled the renegotiation of the affiliation agreement between KU Medical Center and KU Hospital last year. Ultimately, however, an agreement that was amenable to both parties — and also involved St. Luke’s Hospital — was reached.

He also achieved an increase of more than 54 percent in minority faculty and a 33 percent increase in women faculty during his tenure.

Donna Shank, chair of the Kansas Board of Regents, said in a statement, “The people of Kansas and KU alumni worldwide have benefited tremendously from Bob Hemenway’s service. The accomplishments of the university during his firm and progressive leadership speak for themselves. KU has grown in size, strength and reputation.”

Shank said the regents would appoint a committee to begin a national search for Hemenway’s successor.

Appointing an interim chancellor “is not outside the realm of possibility,” said regents spokesman Kip Peterson. He noted that the last time there was a search for a KU chancellor, an interim chancellor was put in place.

Peterson said the regents will discuss the search process during its monthly meeting next week. “It (appointing an interim) is something the board will consider if it makes sense with the search plan that they outline,” he said.

Kansas State and Pittsburg State universities also are seeking new leaders.

Hemenway said he wasn’t worried about finding a qualified successor.

“This is a great university,” Hemenway said. “One thing that’s characteristic of a great university is that they make great hires.”

“I congratulate Bob on his great successes in helping the University of Kansas to be one of the premier universities in America,” said Gov. Kathleen Sebelius in a statement. “The opportunities for the future have been set with record enrollments, nationally top-ranked programs in numerous fields, and a research engine that is generating critical economic activity and knowledge.”

In his first year after leaving the chancellorship, Hemenway said he intended to work on a book about intercollegiate athletics and American values, returning to the classroom in 2010.

"KU has been fortunate for the past 14 years to have had such a quality leader as Chancellor Hemenway. Our students will continue to benefit from his decision to remain here on the faculty," Perkins said in a statement provided to the Journal-World. "The chancellor has been very supportive of the Kansas Athletics program, recognizing the value of intercollegiate athletics to KU but always in the context of education, integrity and NCAA compliance."

Perkins said he counted the chancellor as a friend.

On Monday, the chancellor highlighted achievements of his tenure including the pursuit of National Cancer Institute designation for the KU Cancer Center, record enrollment levels, increased research funding and a national basketball championship.

Richard Lariviere, provost and executive vice chancellor, said news of Hemenway’s retirement came as a surprise to him.

“Bob has a reputation among his peers as a really great university leader,” Lariviere said. “One of the reasons I took this job was his reputation.”

Lariviere, now in his third year as provost, said he was able to learn a lot by watching Hemenway steer the university through good times and difficult ones.

“I learned that when you place an institution’s well-being ahead of your own, you sometimes have to take licks that are hard to take,” he said. “But that’s who he is.”

Lariviere declined to discuss whether he was interested in becoming KU’s next chancellor, saying he was still reeling from Monday’s news and preferred to keep the focus on Hemenway.

The chancellor’s announcement also comes at a time of global financial crisis, and state funding to the university is likely to be slashed in coming months.

Hemenway acknowledged the impending budget situation, saying it would likely be a difficult time for someone to take over, but he was confident that KU’s status as a great university would help attract quality candidates.

He said that financial matters would likely consume most of the remaining time he had left on the job.

“I’m not leaving this office with any regrets,” he said. “I’ve had a heck of a good time being chancellor.”

Hemenway’s news reverberated across the Lawrence campus and beyond Monday.

“It’s one of those bittersweet times,” said Barbara Atkinson, executive vice chancellor of the KU Medical Center. “He has done such an incredibly amazing job for KU.”

Looking at the Medical Center, she said, it’s a “totally different place” than it was 14 years ago.

She praised Hemenway’s efforts to separate the KU Hospital into its own entity and for focusing on pursuing NCI designation for the KU Cancer Center.

“We could never be where we are today without him saying that was the No. 1 priority of the university,” Atkinson said.

Bob Page, KU Hospital CEO, said he enjoyed being able to speak candidly with Hemenway about difficult issues.

“Quite frankly, it’s a loss for me personally as well as professionally,” Page said.

Page said he appreciated Hemenway’s vision and leadership.

“He’s been an advocate for everything we’ve tried to accomplish,” Page said. “He will absolutely be missed.”

Hopefully they'll make me the next Chancellor. I have no credentials to speak of, but I'm totally willing and eager to screw the students by doubling or even tripling tuition, and conspire with the Athletics Department to make KU sporting events unaffordable for all but the richest of alumni. My first act as Chancellor will be a massive, multimillion dollar restoration of my office and residence.I can't decide if Hemenway leaving is good or bad though, I guess it's time for him to move on, dude is 81.

I think the girl, and her mom (?) standing to the left, are a part of Hemenway's bodyguard detail. All those two need are dark sunglasses and wires leading to earpieces because they have the look down pat.

The first task of the next chancellor should be to choose a name for KU and stick with it. It should either be Kansas University or the University of Kansas. Once that has been settled, the new chancellor can just kick back and relax, maybe have a brewski and watch a little TV.

To all of you beating up on Athletics again, I have an idea.In your protest, stop going to basketball games. That will really make a statement. After all, if you hate the Athletics Dept. then we can assume that you don't like the teams they support. By all the posts I've seen on here, I'd guess we'll see a lot of empty seats in Allen Fieldhouse. But then again, you are all probably the people who get the most enjoyment out of the program, but simply believe that athletics success should be given to you and that you shouldn't have to contribute to it. Ungrateful idiots.You are all idiots.---------On a side note: Congratulations Chancellor for a job well done. My best on your retirement.

Uhlrick, do your research on Roy Williams' reason for leaving. Lets say you were offered an honorable job of being an assistant coach for the Olympics and had to prepare year round for that. I'm sure you would take a job such as that. Roy put in 15 good years with KU and he even admitted that he just couldn't get the boys any further and that someone else was probably better for the job. I don't necessarily adore Lew Perkins or Hemmingway for the direction of the athletics being played more in KC rather here in Lawrence, but the two of them have brought both notable recognition to KU's academics and research as well as athletics.I don't necessarily agree with everything Hemmingway has done for the university, but I do respect him. I was really hoping to have Hemmingway speak at my graduation in 2010, but it looks like someone else will be doing that. I wish him the best on his future.

I kind of got the impression that Hemmingway was giving Lew the credit for the great season of football. Last I looked, Lew was NOT the coach, Mangino is and Lew didn't hire him. For that matter, Lew didn't hire Bill Self either. Too bad that Lew isn't the one retiring. I would think he has accumulated enough wealth.

You haters amaze me. Henenway came to KU during a period when the State of Kansas decided to cut funding for higher education. Guess what, KU has seen growth and is moving into the 21st century with the ability to compete with peer institutions. Roy Williams is gone - GREAT - we have an even better program with a national title. Tuition is higher & athletic tickets cost a lot - where did you expect the revenue to come from when the public funding is drying up? Without his leadership and change management, KU might look a lot more like K-State or WSU. But, I suppose for many of you haters out there that would be a good thing.